NCAA makes allegation of unethical conduct by Louisville's Hurtt

Feb. 25, 2013
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University of Louisville defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, shown during the first day of practice last season, has been charged with unethical conduct by the NCAA for actions allegedly perpetrated while an assistant at Miami. / John Sommers II, USA TODAY Sports

by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

Unethical conduct is among several serious charges against former University of Miami assistant football coach Clint Hurtt, according to an NCAA Notice of Allegations obtained Monday by USA TODAY Sports after an open-records request.

Hurtt, Louisville's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, received the eight-page document last Tuesday. He is accused of several violations, including "violating the principles of ethical conduct" in two ways.

He is alleged to have "knowingly provided improper inducements" to three recruits and to have arranged for other improper inducements â?? meals, entertainment and cash â?? by booster Nevin Shapiro to four recruits and three Miami football players. He is also accused of having misled NCAA investigators during interviews. The violations of NCAA rule 10.1 are among the most serious that can be leveled against a coach by the organization.

Shapiro, who is serving a 20-year sentence for running a $930 million Ponzi scheme, alleged to investigators that he broke many NCAA rules. The case, which has been under investigation for more than two years, has been complicated by the NCAA's admission last week, after an external review, that members of its enforcement staff committed significant misconduct in securing the services of an attorney to conduct depositions for the NCAA.

In light of that, Miami president Donna Shalala has called for the NCAA's Committee on Infractions to end the case without further sanctions than those already self-imposed by the school. "We have been wronged in this investigation," Shalala said Feb. 18 in a statement.

Hurtt is among several former Miami coaches who received notices of allegations in conjunction with the investigation. Missouri head basketball coach Frank Haith is among them, but Haith was not charged with unethical conduct. Three coaches â?? former basketball assistants Jake Morton and Jorge Fernandez and former football assistant Aubrey Hill â?? have asked the Committee on Infractions to dismiss charges against them because of the NCAA's botched investigation.

Hurtt's contract with Louisville, which pays him $350,000 and expires June 30, 2013, includes a clause that reads, "Employee agrees to conduct himself/herself in civil and respectable fashion at all times during the term of this contract and in such manner as not to disparage or cause unfavorable publicity to (the University of Louisville Athletic Association) or the University. The public visibility of ULAA positions makes the absence of negative publicity about Employee material condition of employment."

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich, who told the Louisville Courier-Journal last week that Hurtt's status with the school remained unchanged, said the assistant coach planned to fight the allegations.

"I've said all along. Since it did not happen at the University of Louisville, Clint is due his due process, and I think that's the only fair thing we can do as a university," Jurich told the newspaper. Clint's side of the story is much different than the allegations, so I think we just wait the 90 days to see how it unfolds."

Hurtt is also accused of accepting "impermissible supplemental compensation" including a $2,500 loan from Shapiro (which Hurtt repaid). He is accused of providing impermissible benefits of at least $3,315 to five recruits and three family members of recruits. The alleged benefits were in the form of transportation, meals and lodging.

Hurtt has 90 days to respond to the allegations, and will be summoned to a hearing before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions. He is not accused of breaking rules at Louisville.

"Since Clint has been here, he's never done an iota wrong. â?¦ We have a compliance staff that works diligently to make sure we've got safety nets in place," Jurich told the newspaper.

The Associated Press reported the Committee on Infractions wants to hold a hearing into the Miami case June 14-15.